Safety gate for pulp vats



Jan. 24, 1928. 1,656,944

D. GERVAIS SAFETY GATE FOR PULP VATS Filed Feb. 18. 1927 a 20 IL a L o mmul Attorney 0 g I) By ,t atented .lan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES" DONAT GERVAIS, OF STOGKHQLM, MAINE.

SAFETY GATE non rum? VATS;

Application filed February 18, 1927. Serial No. 169,331.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gate structures, and has more particular reference to asatety gate primarily adapted for use incon unction with pulp vats.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a normally closed gate that is so constructed as to be automatically opened during the rolling of a log into the vat, which log forcibly strikes against the gate for opening the same;

A further and important ob ect isto providea gate structure or this character wherein as the log passes therethrough the same will automatically return to closed position and at the same time become automatically locked in such position.

This character of gate is especiallyadapt ed for use in veneer mills wherein logs are thrown into the vats, Such vats are now protected at three sides, but the side through which the logs pass is in every instance that has invited my attention, open and frequently the worlnnen will fall into the vats through these openings with the resultant loss of life.

In the drawing wherein like num 'als indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of vat platform beneath the opening in which is the usual vat, not disclosed, said vat platform being equipped with a safety gate constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in cross section through one of the locking members or the mechanism disclosing the lower end of the gate as held thereby.

Now having particular reference to the drawing, 5 indicates the usual platform in position above a pulp vat, not disclosed, said platform being provided with the usual rectangular opening 6 above the vat through which the logs are thrown. In carrying out my invention there is arranged at the four corners of this o iening six vertical posts the rear two of which are interconnected by a cross bar 8 while the end posts are inter connected by short bars 99.

Furthermore, there is arranged across the rear posts 7 a metal strap 10, the ends of which pass between the adjacent end posts and are connected at their ends to the front posts 7--7 in any suitable manner. Furt-hermore the front posts T7 are inter-con nected at their upper ends by a crossbar 11.

The construction just described with the possible exception of the forward bar 11 is more or less of conventional construction and I do not desire to lay any particular stress thereon. This construction is'merely disclosed and briefly described so as to lay a foundation for the illustration and description of my particular invention.

Said invention consists of a suitable gate- 12 of a: length slightly less than the length or the bar 11 and suitably pivotally suspended flOll] said bar as suggested in Figurel. This bar is formed or provided atits forward side with two or more laterally projecting pins 11313l while the gate 12 is also formed or provided with similar pinsle beneath said first mentioned pins andinterconnecting which are retracti'le coil springs 15 for the purpose of normally swinging the gate to the position more clear ly disclosed in Figure 2', inwhich positionthe passage between, the front posts 7+7 is closed.

Arranged horizontally upon the platform. 5 adjacent the ends of the gate 12 is pair of spaced parallel and inclined log skid bars 16 -l6 upon which the logs being fed to the vat will roll as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. Pivoted to the platform ti within said skid bars 1-6-1-6"- and parallel there with are trip levers Il -17 preferably of flatdike bar formation, and throughout'the major portion of their area beneath their upper-surface of said skid bars Ita -16. The ends or these trip levers adjacent the gate 12 are curved upwardly as 18-1=8 above the skid bars, so as to be encountered by the .lugs as the same pass over the barsjust prior to theirentra-nce into the vat. Each trip lever is maintained" in such position by reason of a small expa-nsiblecoil spring'19 resting upon the platform and within a: socket 20 formed in the underside of each lever. l j

At the extreme inner end of each lever:- 17 the same is formed with a depending cup 21 within which is arranged a small eX- pansible coil spring 22 for the purposeof as clearly indicated in Figure The latch pins of these levers are obviously for the purpose of preventing the accidental inward movement of the gate 12 when the same has been forcibly swung to a rearward closed position as indicated in both Figures 2 and 3. For limiting the rearward swinging movement of the gate, each lever 17 is provided with a vertical pin Q-t in spaced relation with respect to the latch pin Obviously as the log rolls down the akid bars 16l6, the upwardly bent ends 1S-18 of the trip levers 1T-l7 will he encountered and the weight of the logs will swing said levers downwardly tor releasing the gate. Furthermore, the force of the legs will move the gate inwardly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 so that the logs will n'love through the opening in the platform into the vat. Immediately upon the logs passing from the levera the same will be raised by reason ot the coil springs 19 so that when the gate 12 :is returned under action of the springs 15, the same will lock between the latch pins 23 and the stop pins 24.

In view of the foregoing description when considered in conjunction with the accomiianying drawing, it will he apparent that I have provided a highly novel, simple and ollicientsatiety gate for pulp vats that is well adapted for all the purposes heretofore designated, and even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting ot certain detail structural ele ments, it is nevertheless to he understood that minor changes may be made therein without al'l ecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what- I claim as new is:-

1. In automatic gate, a swingingly mounted gate structure, yieldable means for normally swinging the gate to closed position, and trip means for releasably securing the gate, comprising a gate engaging member arranged for disengagement upon contact by a moving object traveling in a direction toward the gate, said trip means further including a latch permitting return of the gate to a closed position and prtwenting opening of the gate except through the operation of said gate engaging member.

2. In. an automatic gate, a swiuginglv mounted gate structure, said gate being normally operable toward a closed position and gate retaining means for securing the gate in closed position and arranged for releasing the gate upon contact by an object moving in a direction toward the gate. the corn tinned movement of the objects operating to open said gate by direct engagement therewith.

3. In an automatic gate, a gate supporting platform having an opening therein, a gate swingingly mounted upon the platform adjacent one side of the opening, yieldable means :tor normally swinging the gate to closed position, and means :1 related with the platform tor releasably securing the gate in closed position, said means being actuated by contact therewith ot a moving object traveling in a direction toward the gate, the continued movement of the object operating to open the gate by direct engagement therewith, permitting said object to enter the opening in the platform.

In an automatic gate. a gate support ing platt'orm having an opm'iing therein, a :awingingly mounted gate upon the plattorm adjacent one side of the opening, means for normally swinging the gate to closed posi tion and means associated with the platform for releasably seeming the gate in said position, said means being releasable by contact ot a gravity actuated object pal-wing thereover and .suliacrpiently engaging the gate :tor opening the same.

In an automatic gate, a gate supporting plat-term having an Optillilltl therein, a awinging gate mounted upon the platform adjacent one edge ol the opening and adapt ed to swing to normally closed position, a lever pivoted to the p atform and having means at one end for locking the gate in closed position, and means ttlllllfitl as a part Of the lever adapted to he encountered by a gravity actuated object tor passing there-- over and releasing the gate trom the lever, said gate being arranged in the path of movementot the object and directly engageable tl ereby for opening the same.

(i. In combination, a gate s-upptuting platform having an opening therein, a gate swingingly uunmted adjwrcnt the (melting, a gravity runway leading toward the gate, means yieldably urging the gate in closed position, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the platform and arranged at omicnsltc sides of the gate, latch meant at one end of each of the levers l'QltEllHtltJlj," retaining the gate in closed position, vicldahle z'neans non mally urging the latch end ot the lever lo ward engagement with the gate, said levers being arranged in the path of objects moving on said run ay and adapted tor latch releasing operation upon contact thereby, the continued movement ot raid objects operating subsequently to engage and open raid gate.

In testimony whereof I allli; mv r-ignature.

DONAT onnvitis. 

